KEY POINTS:
Leaded fuels will be replaced by unleaded pump fuels in this season's motorsport race championships and will be eliminated from all MotorSport New Zealand (MNZ) sanctioned events by 2010.
"We are aware that our sport is perceived as less than environmentally friendly," MNZ general manager Ross Armstrong said today.
"We are keen to do everything we can to mitigate our impact on the environment while still maintaining the integrity of the sport.
"We have moved to eliminate leaded fuels as a first step. Competitors in the current NZ rally championship are using pump fuels and race championship competitors will follow suit this summer."
MNZ recently investigated bio-ethanol in high-performance engines, with support from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA).
It found that there were benefits to both the environment and competitors in using bio-ethanol-blended petrol and while performance gains were modest, the combination provided positive momentum for further research.
Armstrong said ethanol and fuels blended with ethanol had characteristics that offered advantages over conventional motorsport fuels for high-performance engines, and ethanol produced from sustainable feedstock had been proven to reduce net carbon dioxide emissions.
"As an initial investigation we're very happy with the outcomes," Armstrong said of the testing with EECA.
"As part of our evolving environmental policy we accept we need to take a responsible view on fuels."
- NZPA
